The MTA has set up ferries and buses to bring people to and from Long Island, while sending Penn-bound LIRR trains to Brooklyn and Queens stations.

"We're asking Long Islanders to change their habits, to try something different," Lhota said in a conference call. "When I used to personally commute from Lindenhurst, I used to stand in the same spot every day at the station."

Lhota said the MTA will have an operation center at agency headquarters and stations Monday to evaluate how well the the alternatives are working. The MTA will tweak service through the eight weeks Amtrak is making repairs.

Lhota said that the MTA is ready for Monday's hellacious commute.

Extra cars on LIRR trains will be added over the weekend. Meanwhile, MTA officials are getting their communication channels in place to make sure service runs as smoothly as possible.

"We have all of the assets that we need to be able to have in place for Monday morning," Lhota said.

LIRR riders being diverted to Brooklyn and Queens stations will connect to the overtaxed subway system. To ease that burden, MTA interim director Ronnie Hakim said officials will know what time LIRR trains are arriving and make sure subway trains are available to handle the crowds.

"We have coordinated with NYC Transit subway service to be able to know what time those trains are arriving at those different stations, including at Atlantic Terminal and to measure and provide for adequate subway capacity," Hakim said.

Amtrak, which owns and operates Penn Station, will make extensive repairs to the tracks on the western side of the busy hub.

It'll require Amtrak crews to take out three tracks at a time during the morning and evening rush hours. There will be no changes to off-peak service.

Lhota said the MTA will monitor Amtrak's repairs to make sure they're on track to finish by Sept. 1 as planned.

"We will on a daily basis observing what they're doing because we want to hold them to the fact that this will end on Sept. 1," Lhota said.